We bought the same 20 items in Tesco and Aldi one year on - and the results are eye-opening

In 2023, the Irish Mirror set about comparing the prices of 20 like-for-like items in Tesco and Aldi to determine which supermarket chain offered the best deals during the cost-of-living crisis, and we have done it again this year.

Data company Kantar recently reported that 2023 was a year which saw continued drops in inflation rates in Ireland – although still high – as figures from November indicate that it is at 9.8 per cent.

In order to see if prices across both supermarkets’ product ranges had changed much over the last 12 months, we bought the same 20 items as last year and the findings make for concerning reading.

The chosen items included essentials like a loaf of bread, milk, eggs and minced beef as well as tea bags, Corn Flakes and fruit.

Last year, the items in Tesco were €7.40 more expensive than they were in 2022 – a 25 per cent price increase. The Aldi shop came in €6.15 more expensive than in 2022 – a 22 per cent increase.

Tesco

The total amount for the Tesco shop in February 2023 came to €36.97. Here are the prices in 2024:

1. Penne pasta (1kg) = €1.35

Pasta sauce (500g) = €0.85

Rice (1kg) = €1.50

Minced Beef 18% (1.028 kg) = €4.49

Whole Chicken (2kg) = €6.50

Loaf of bread (800g) = €1.99

Milk (2l) = €2.49

Butter (454g) = €3.89

Ham (125g) = €1.65

Cheddar Cheese (200g) = €3.50

6 Eggs = €1.95

Corn Flakes (500g) = €1.19

6 Apples = €1.99

5 Bananas = €1.89

Carrots (2kg) = €2.15

Onions (1kg) = €1.29

Baked beans (420g) = €0.50

Low fat yogurt (500g) = €0.90

Bourbon creams (296g) = €0.55

Tea bags (250g) = €4.50

TOTAL in 2024: €45.07

The price of the groceries from Tesco has shot up by €8.10 over the past year, now totalling €45.07. This represents an increase of 22 per cent.

Additionally, the figures show that the overall cost of these exact same 20 items in Tesco has increased by a whopping 52 per cent since 2022, or €15.50.

Aldi

Aldi shop front

The total amount for the Aldi shop in February 2023 came to €33.98. Here are the prices in 2024:

Penne Pasta 1kg = €1.35

1. Pasta sauce 500g = €0.85
2. Rice 1kg = €1.49
3. Minced Beef 18% (1kg) = €4.19
4. Whole Chicken (1.9kg) = €5.79
5. Loaf of bread (800g) = €1.99
6. Milk (2l) = €2.09
7. Butter (454g) = €4.29
8. Ham (125g) = €1.59
9. Cheddar Cheese (200g) = €1.69
10. 6 Eggs = €1.39
11. Corn Flakes (500g) = €1.19
12. 6 Apples = €1.59
13. 6 Bananas = €2.25
14. Carrots (2kg) = €1.95
15. Onions (1kg) = €1.19
16. Baked beans (420g) = €0.49
17. Low fat yogurt (500g) = €0.69
18. Bourbon creams (200g) = €0.34
19. Tea bags (250g) = €3.80

TOTAL in 2024: €40.20

The price of the groceries from Aldi has shot up by €6.22 since this time last year, now totalling €40.20. This represents an increase of 18 per cent.

We can also confirm from these figures that the overall cost of these exact same 20 items in Aldi has increased by €12.37 or 44 per cent since two years ago.

The main findings

Tesco is €4.87 more expensive than Aldi in this year’s price comparison of the same 20 items. Last year’s comparison measured a difference of €2.99 between the two supermarkets, meaning the gap has widened, owing to the fact that Tesco’s prices have increased at a greater rate than Aldi’s.

In 2024, Tesco is €8.15 more expensive for the same items than it was this time last year – 22 per cent more expensive, to be precise. The same items from Aldi will now cost you €6.22 extra this time around as you now pay 18 per cent more.

The majority of the items on Tesco’s list have increased, with their 250g box of tea bags taking a mighty leap from €1.39 to €4.50. A tin of baked beans increased this year by 5c, but has doubled in price over two years, going from 25c to 50c. The exception in the list is minced beef which actually decreased in price by 50c. Its ham and cheddar cheese stayed the same price (€1.65 and €3.50 respectively) and 6-apple packs stay at €1.99.

Aldi also saw some considerable price hikes across its list, the most significant being the jump in price for its 250g tea bags from €1.39 to €3.80 this year. Unlike Tesco, its minced beef has gone up by 20c. Its butter will also cost you an extra 90c compared to 2023, onions have increased by 50c having previously been 69c and beans have doubled in price.

Aldi’s cheddar cheese, eggs and low-fat yogurt have all stayed the same price. Its two-litre milk, ham and bourbon creams are slight exceptions as they have decreased in cost this year, but not significantly.

The take-home message

Aldi remains cheaper to buy from than Tesco, and even more so now.

The figures this year show a clear upward trend in price this year compared to last year in both Tesco and Aldi, in line with the cost-of-living crisis that has been plaguing households all over Ireland and Europe.

The price increases across both supermarkets average 20 per cent since February last year, meanwhile they average 48 per cent since the same time two years ago. The rates of grocery price inflation in the 20-item list (22 per cent in Tesco and 18 per cent in Aldi) are both greater than the stated average national rate of 9.8 per cent for groceries reported last November.

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